In our home we value creativity, honesty, curiosity & play, and to think that it's ok to fall down from time to time.
You will always be your child's parent. That's the first thing we want you to know. No matter what path you choose, you will not stop being your child's first parent. We are hoping for an open adoption—one where your story will be honored and known by your child.
About us: We're Aeriel and David, a loving, joyful, creative couple living in New York. We’re very lucky to have a close, loving relationship and with twelve years under our belts. We’ve built a life together as collaborators, cheerleaders, advisors on problems big and small, playmates and of course, deeply committed partners. We each bring to the relationship a deep sense of adventure, curiosity and wonder about the world around us—things we hope to instill in a child. We hope that in our home your child will learn to value creativity, honesty, curiosity and play, and to understand that it’s ok to fall down from time to time. We want to provide a loving, supportive, encouraging home where your child can flourish.
While we are deeply grateful that you're taking to time to read this and get to know us a little, we're also are looking forward to getting to know you. It takes courage to make even first steps towards an adoption plan for your child. We hope to have the opportunity to honor that courage through our parenting and also through an open adoption.
Aeriel is kind, funny and nurturing. She’s a loyal friend who is always willing to listen. She’s also a great story teller—something she learned growing up as part of a traveling circus (for real!).
Above all, she loves to laugh and make others laugh with her!
Likes: making up silly songs, riding bikes, surfing in warm water, travel, gardening, reading, writing, running, swimming, cooking, baking, and animals of all sorts.
Dislikes: meanness
David is steadfast, fun-loving and curious. He comes from a very large family and is very close with his 11 nieces and nephews! He’s great at puzzling out problems and gives GREAT advice. He’s also passionate about making things (like the furniture in our house and a few surfboards.
Likes: art, discovering new talents in himself and others, surfing (especially if there are dolphins), daily runs, swimming, eating (especially Korean food), fishing, driving our boat to new beaches and building things.
Dislikes: surprise parties
HOW WE MET
We met while working next door to one another in a building in Manhattan and married in a ceremony in downtown New York. We walked from the church to the reception, with what felt like the whole city cheering us on. This is the best part about New York—community is never hard to find, even when you’re just walking down the street. We feel lucky to be living this life together in such a vibrant part of the world and can’t wait to share it all.
We have one dog, who our littlest friend calls “Xiao go go” which is Chinese for little dog. Xiao loves all little kids, especially the ones that drop snacks!
FRIENDS & COMMUNITY
One of the things we love the most about our lives is our very diverse, very close-knit group of friends. Some of these friendships date all the way back to junior high. We travel together, visiting each other in places like France, Spain, DC and Los Angeles, learn from each other, lean on each other and support one another.
We even have a regular Saturday night ‘family meal’ every week (it's a good thing we're both accomplished cooks and bakers! Everyone particularly loves it when David makes one of the Korean dishes he grew up eating or when Aeriel makes croissants). We're there to love and support one another, down to the littlest members. It’s been such a joy to watch our friend’s children grow up and they can’t wait to embrace another child into the fold.
We believe in the power of education and are within walking distance of top notch schools. We also believe that education can take many forms—like learning biology through bee keeping! Experiences are sometimes the best teachers.
We also belong to a vibrant, diverse church and attend services weekly. David grew up in a big church and even played in a Christian ska band in college. Our church community is a big part of our lives and includes several adopted children.
We're there to love and support one another, down to the littlest members. It’s been such a joy to watch our friend’s children grow up and they can’t wait to embrace another child into the fold.
HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES:
Did we mention we love surfing? Aeriel taught David the first year they met and since then, it’s been a big hobby, leading us to buy a house near the beach. We spend our weekends there, even in the winter, taking beach walks, boating out to barrier islands and when it’s cold, snuggling by the fire with a good book (or three). We love learning about the animals and plant life in the ocean and will frequently fish or clam for our dinners.
It’s something we can’t wait to share.
When we’re not at the beach, we’re usually at a museum or gallery, planning a meal for one of our dinner parties or prepping some new pastry (we really love to cook and eat). We spend a lot of time with our families, including our annual Korean dinner for Lunar New Year, and our annual Thanksgiving visit with David’s sister’s family. Her littlest girl can not wait to finally be a ‘big’ cousin. Fourth of July is a big deal at our house and we all gather on our dock to watch the fireworks over the water.
David runs his own graphic design business and Aeriel is an editor at a magazine. We are both so lucky to have found careers we love, that allow us to use all of our organizational and creative skills and have enough flexibility to raise a family.
We feel so blessed to have so much joy and love in our lives. We can’t wait to harness all the love around us and guide a child to achieve their hopes and dreams. We know that life isn’t always easy and the road isn’t always smooth, but being surrounded by people who love you unconditionally, support you and can hold your hand through the rough patches makes those bumpy times just a little better.
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about us and our lives. We hope to hear from you and look forward to hearing your hopes for your child.
